Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 18, 1992 TAG: 9201180332
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS GLADDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
`CRADLE' AN EFFECTIVE THRILLER
Meet the Motts, the fun couple of 1992.Dr. Mott is a gynecologist who sexually molests his patients. His wife is a vengeful, obsessive sociopath.
In "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle," Dr. Mott commits suicide early to clear the way for his wife's vendetta against the woman she blames for her troubles.
Rebecca De Mornay plays Peyton, a toxic nanny, in this improbably plotted but effectively crafted thriller directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Amanda Silver.
Already, there have been stories about the sociological implications of the movie because it depicts an upscale, modern family that can afford home child care.
But to take it for anything issue-oriented would be a mistake: Filmmakers are looking all over the place for villains in this era of psycho-thrillers. This is just a button-punching suspense movie with yet another human monster.
Claire (Annabella Sciorra), the object of Peyton's hatred, is a new mother who does volunteer work at the local greenhouse. Her husband (Matt McCoy) urges her to hire a nanny so she can have time to build a greenhouse of her own.
None of the applicants meets her qualifications until Peyton shows up, a cool snake in the grass if there ever was one. Peyton insinuates herself into the household and quickly begins to turn everyone against Claire - the husband, the oldest daughter and the baby.
Up until the final minutes, there are more moments of discomfort than there are chills. Peyton is a shrewd conniver who engineers Claire's humiliation before she turns to more lethal measures. The only people to question Peyton's sincerity are Solomon (Ernie Hudson), a mentally retarded handyman; and the couple's friend (Julianne Moore).
Though the script offers few surprises, it touches all the necessary bases. Hanson is kind of stodgy when it comes to style, but he paces the story well.
Sciorra is the movie's strongest asset. She's an expressive actress who captures Claire's decency and the audience's sympathy.
`The Hand That Rocks the Cradle': 1/2: A Buena Vista release at Tanglewood Mall Cinema (989-6165) and Salem Valley 8 (389-0444). Rated R for nudity, violence and sexual content; 120 minutes.